Joey Votto can relate to PTSD because of what he went through in 2009 after the death of his father. He suffered depression and panic attacks to the degree that he missed three weeks of baseball.

When Joey Votto approached Jill Miller about starting a charitable foundation, Miller's advice was to make it personal.

"The foundations that stand out to me are ones that are more personal," Miller said. "I encouraged him to make something that was personal to him."

Votto chose to help veterans and families of veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. Votto can relate because of what he went through in 2009 after the death of his father. He suffered depression and panic attacks to the degree that he missed three weeks of baseball.

"After what I experienced in 2009 after the death of my dad - all the emotional and physiological reactions I had to his passing, they were certainly difficult and really impacted my life then and to this day now," he said. "It was not fun. It was hell to go through."

"A lot of symptoms I experienced are similar, although for totally, totally different reasons - theirs from their service, mine from a personal experience. But the symptoms cross over. Because of that, I was genuinely motivated to help. I felt a lot of compassion."

Votto will officially launch the Joey Votto Foundation with a benefit Thursday at the Green Diamond Gallery in Montgomery. The event is sold out. Miller, the former development director Ronald McDonald House, is the executive director.

Votto is giving more than his name and money to the cause.

"He's very hands-on," Miller said. "He has been since the very beginning."

Votto alluded - with a laugh - to the on-base vs. RBI debate when talking about the point of the foundation.

"The goal is to raise and much money as we can and get that money in the right peoples' hands," he said. "Similar to baseball, I don't care how it looks. I want to be as efficient as possible. I'm not too concerned with my public image. My motivation is to help people."

Votto spent four months working on Thursday's benefit. It shows in the items available in the silent auction, including an autographed Mariano Rivera jersey, a Ted Williams' signed ball and a 45-minute coaching session from Votto.

But aside from raising money, Votto hopes to raise awareness for PTSD.

"It's very common," he said. "And there's stigma associated with it. And because of that stigma, they can struggle to get motivated to get help. I think raising awareness is important and let people know, hey, it's OK to get help. There is a solution to it."

Votto approached starting the foundation like he does an at-bat. He thought it through before he swung.

"It was a long process," Votto said. "It took about a year or even a little more than a year to decide exactly what I wanted to help with and what I was motivated by. It's something that is challenging. But I also think I can make a genuine impact. I feel pretty strongly."

Votto pledged 1 percent of his $225 million contract to charity when he signed it. But, again, he's doing more than funding the foundation.

"I'll use my time and energy and public recognition to benefit them. There's a money side. But this instance being able to make it easier by coming out and saying 'I'm supporting this. I hope that anybody who comes back and needs help will be motivated to get help. Even if it's just one person I help, I think it's really worthy. Our goal is to help more than that. But even if it's one person, I'm excited about that potential."

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Votto does more than fund foundation

Votto chose to help veterans and families of veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. Votto can relate because of what he went through in 2009 after the death of his father.